Law base between China, Portuguese-speaking countries unveiled in S China

Zhou Qiang (7th from right), chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court, and his counterparts and other senior law officials from Portuguese-speaking countries attend the launching ceremony of the judicial cooperation and exchanges base between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in South China’s Guangdong province on March 25. [Photo by Sun Ruofeng/The People's Courts News and Communication Agency]

The head of China’s top court called for closer cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in providing better legal services for the Belt and Road Initiative at a launching ceremony on March 25.

Zhou Qiang, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), made the call when witnessing the establishment of a judicial cooperation and exchange base between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in South China’s Guangdong province.

He said that China and Portuguese-speaking countries keep close economic, trade and talent ties, and that exchanges and cooperation in the judicial sector is proceeding smoothly.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.

The base serves as a new opportunity for each side to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and mutual trust and understanding, Zhou added.

It also helps to boost the social and economic development of China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and thus advances the Belt and Road Initiative and a community with shared future for humanity, he noted.

António Henriques Gaspar, president of the Portuguese Supreme Court, said it is the right time to build such a base, which focuses on promoting exchanges and cooperation between different judicial systems.

He said Portugal is willing to advance mutual dialogue and information sharing with China.

Senior law officials from Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Brazil, and Equatorial Guinea also joined the unveiling ceremony of the base.

Before the ceremony, Zhou briefed his guests about rule of law in China and judicial reform. Senior law officials from Portuguese-speaking countries attending the forum outlined the achievements in the law sector in their own countries.